FACSIMILE SYSTEMS FOR PERSONAL COMPUTING DEVICES

Abstract: A system for effectively combining a personal computing device (11) equipped with a facsimile modem with a service bureau (1) via a facsimile transmission initiated by the computing device. The service bureau assigns a facsimile telephone address (5) to each computing device (11), which, when the telephone address is used, results in a communication with the service bureau (1) which can receive the information and temporarily store the same. The service bureau (1) and personal computing device (11) must carry out a particular cooperation whereby the personal computing device (11) contacts the service bureau via its facsimile modem whereafter they cooperate to manipulate the facsimile modem to allow the subsequent receipt of a facsimile-compatible transmission. The facsimile-compatible transmission may contain conventional facsimile image data, digitized voice, electronic mail, text, video, spreadsheet, database, or any other information types.

Description: TITLE: FACSIMILE SYSTEMS FOR PERSONAL COMPUTING DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Facsimile machines and facsimile transmissions have gained wide acceptance and most companies could not effectively operate without a facsimile capability. In many cases, homes now have facsimile transmission and reception capability and the growth in this type of transmission continues at a high rate. Initially, most of the facsimile transmissions were from dedicated facsimile machine to dedicated facsimile machine, however, more recently, personal computing devices have been combined with a facsimile modem and appropriate application software to provide a system which can receive and transmit facsimile transmissions. The facsimile modem connects the personal computing device to any telephone outlet and emulates the protocol by which facsimile machines communicate (normally the CCITT Group 3 and/or Group 4 facsimile standard) . The term "personal computing device" includes all desktop, free-standing, laptop and palmtop computers, as well as Personal Digital Assistants, graphic tablets, and other digital devices capable of facsimile-compatible communication. Many of these facsimile-equipped personal computing devices are not connected to a dedicated telephone line with its own telephone number, and in the case of portable units, the personal computing device may be connected to different telephone lines, depending upon the location of the user. These telephone access points may connect to conventional wire line telephone systems or to cellular or other wireless networks . Without a fixed telephone system access point with a known number, the facsimile modems are able to transmit facsimiles to any recipient, but the ability to receive a facsimile is extremely restricted. The difficulty in receiving a facsimile on a facsimile-equipped personal computing device arises from - 1 - SUBSTITUTE SHEET the fact that a sender always dials a telephone number of the recipient machine, the recipient machine answers the resultant inbound ringing signal, sets up the session with the calling machine, and receives the transmitted facsimile. Since most facsimile-equipped personal computing devices are not connected to a fixed dedicated telephone line with a known number, it is very difficult to send a facsimile to a facsimile-equipped personal computing device. The present invention teaches a particular methodology whereby it is possible to assign a fixed facsimile telephone number to a facsimile-equipped personal computing device and to deliver facsimiles to the personal computing device regardless of the telephone line to which the personal computing device is connected at the time. Such a facsimile-equipped personal computing device may share a telephone in an office or hotel room, or may be connected to a cellular or cordless telephone access point, and any facsimile which is sent to the number associated with that personal computing device will be delivered to its correct destination. United States Patent 4,969,184 discloses a data transmission arrangement where a facsimile transmission and receiving arrangement need not have a dedicated line for receiving facsimile transmissions, as a process intermediary can receive and temporarily store the facsimile transmission destined therefor. According to this transmission arrangement, a non-telephone actuation signal alerts the facsimile arrangement of a received transmission which causes the facsimile receiving and transmission arrangement to contact the process intermediary and thereby receive the appropriate facsimile transmission. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention defines a particular combination which includes a service bureau and separate and distinct computing devices. The service bureau has associated therewith a multiline direct in-dial trunk group with individual telephone numbers, each such number being assigned to one of the computing devices. Each computing device is equipped with a facsimile modem and application software for controlling the operation of the facsimile modem. Each facsimile modem and the application software has the capability to initiate a telephone communication with a destined terminal and transmit facsimile encoded information thereto or to receive facsimile encoded information sent thereto in the manner of a conventional facsimile transmission. The service bureau includes signalling means to transmit signals to a computing device equipped with the facsimile modem and the associated application software when a telephone communication is initiated by the facsimile modem and personal computing device. The signals transmitted to the facsimile modem and application software of the personal computing device cause the facsimile modem to depart from the conventional facsimile procedure and prepare the facsimile modem for receipt of facsimile encoded information which is subsequently sent thereto from the service bureau. With the above arrangement, the facsimile modem is manipulated to cause it to depart from the conventional transmission protocol and this manipulation is required as the facsimile modem has initiated the call to the service bureau, and in the normal transmission mode, would follow this with a transmission to the service bureau. In contrast, what is required of the combination is that the service bureau is to transmit a facsimile transmission to the facsimile modem and personal computing device . Therefore, for this to occur, the facsimile modem will have to be in a facsimile transmission receipt state. This manipulation is accomplished by the particular application software residing in the personal computing device and the particular signals sent from the service bureau. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the service bureau receives information from the calling terminal regarding the type of facsimile modem which has initiated telephone communication with the service bureau and uses this information to have the signal means produce an appropriate set of signals to cause the modem to prepare itself for receipt of a facsimile encoded transmission. There are a number of facsimile modems presently being sold and the type of signals being sent to those particular facsimile modems to cause them to enter a receipt mode can vary substantially. Therefore, in one embodiment, this information regarding the type of facsimile modem is communicated to the service bureau as a result of information sent by the application software to the service bureau via the facsimile modem. It is also possible to provide this information on an indirect basis by assigning particular telephone numbers for the facsimile modem to contact the service bureau, and thus, the type of facsimile modem can be assigned to the telephone number which facsimile modems of that type will use . It is also possible merely to have the service bureau have predetermined knowledge of the facsimile modem type, which can be determined at an earlier date, such as when the service is being initiated. The service bureau can thus store facsimile transmissions destined for a personal computing device, which may not always be connected to the same access point of a switched telephone network. This is particularly valuable for personal computing devices which are portable and which a professional might take with him for travel or even take home for office work. The application software will allow him to initiate the call to the service bureau via the facsimile modem, which is connected to whatever telephone line is available at that point in time . People wishing to contact that facsimile arrangement will always have an assigned telephone number at the service bureau, which can be provided at low cost as it is merely one of a number of telephone numbers assigned to a direct in-dial trunk facility. In yet a further preferred aspect of the invention, the service bureau downloads application software to the personal computing device at the time of sign-up, including menus of new options, or at the time of any updates whereby the user of the personal computing device need not be fully familiar with the application software or the installation thereof, as it is effectively made for him by the service bureau downloading to the personal computing device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic of the capabilities of the service bureau and how the service bureau communicates with the publicly-switched telephone network; Figure 2 is a further schematic showing how a remote facsimile-equipped personal computing device connected to a non-dedicated line receives transmissions sent to a telephone address of that personal computing device recorded by the service bureau and originating from any type of facsimile transmission capability. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The method and system of the present invention uses the standard facsimile transmission protocol which has certain communication fields used to establish the initial communication session after which the data can be transmitted. These fields are used in a particular manner between a subscriber of the system and the service bureau for retrieval. of facsimiles received by the service bureau on behalf of the subscriber. The initial communication fields of facsimile transmission (standard facsimile format) are maintained whereby any facsimile terminal can be a user of the system. The standard facsimile format includes a field, which in this application is referred to as the Called Subscriber Identification (CSI) field. This field normally contains the facsimile telephone number or other identifier of the particular facsimile terminal. In the case of a subscriber to the system, the CSI field is the telephone facsimile number of the subscriber which is given to others should they wish to send a facsimile to the subscriber. Sending a facsimile to this number will cause the sending terminal to contact the service bureau which will receive the transmission on behalf of the subscriber. Another field is the Transmission Terminal Identification (TTI) field and normally contains an alphanumeric identification of the transmitting terminal and is typically printed at the top of each page by the receiving terminal. Use can also be made of specified data blocks which adhere to standard facsimile format, but which contains information other than a graphic image. These communication fields are used by the service bureau and the subscriber in a particular manner to allow modification of normal facsimile transmission procedure when the subscriber contacts the service bureau. Further explanation of the system will be made with reference to the Figures. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate how facsimile-equipped personal computing devices can effectively cooperate with a central service bureau 1 and remote facsimile machines, generally shown as 10. This communication takes place via the publicly-switched telephone network 7 and a number of Direct In-Dialed (DID) trunks 8. The service bureau has a large block of DID (Direct In-Dial) telephone numbers 6 assigned to it by the local public-switched telephone network. Whenever a call is placed to a number within the block of DID numbers assigned to the service bureau by the public-switched telephone network, the call will appear on a non-busy trunk within the DID tru.ik group connected to the service bureau. Since DID service does not provide a fixed relationship between the trunk delivering the inbound call and the number dialed, the public-switched telephone network sends to the service bureau enough of the dialed digits to allow the service bureau to identify the number dialed. For example, if the block of numbers from 716-886-0000 to 716-886-9999 were assigned to the service bureau and the number 716-886-4567 was dialed by a remote caller, the call would appear on a non-busy trunk within the group and the Central Office (CO) of the publicly- switched telephone network would send the digits 886-4567 to the service bureau. The service bureau would then know that the inbound call it has just answered was a result of a call to 716-886-4567. Each Central Office Direct In-Dial (CO DID) trunk connects to a single port 2 on the service bureau. Each port has the following capabilities: 1. To answer incoming calls on the DID trunk; 2. To receive and process the DID digits transmitted by the CO switch; 3. To undertake a data exchange with the calling terminal using Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) or other information signalling means; 4. To receive a facsimile from a remote facsimile terminal which has called into the service bureau and to save the received data in a specified facsimile mailbox, where the mailbox is typically a disk file and the disk file is addressed by means of the dialed digits communicated by the CO; and 5. To transmit a file as a facsimile to a remote facsimile terminal which has called into the service bureau. The service bureau is able to provide a fixed telephone number to each of a multiplicity of facsimile- equipped personal computing devices, and in conjunction with specific software in each personal computing device, the service bureau is able to deliver received facsimiles to the personal computing device regardless of the telephone access point to which the personal computing device is connected at the time. The operation of the service is as follows: 1. Each facsimile-equipped personal computing device 11 is assigned a specific number from the block of DID numbers 6 which terminate at the service bureau 1. 2. When a remote sender 10 wishes to send a facsimile to a specific number within the DID group assigned to the service bureau, the CO directs the inbound call to a non-busy trunk within the trunk group 8. The service bureau accepts the incoming call, analyzes the actual number dialed, identifies the mailbox associated with that number, enters into a normal facsimile reception mode, and saves the received data in the specific mailbox on the storage device 3. 3. Within each personal computing device 11, specialized application software resides which manipulates the facsimile modem such that a call is placed to the service bureau via whatever telephone line it is connected to 14, and the contents of the specific mailbox are retrieved and saved within the facsimile- equipped personal computing device 11. This requires that the modem be manipulated to initiate an outbound call and then to enter a state for receipt of information from the service bureau The retrieval process may be initiated either through a selection made by the user, on a periodic basis, or as a result of a non-telephone signal being used to alert the facsimile-equipped personal computing device that a facsimile is awaiting retrieval at the service bureau . 4. The retrieval first requires that the application software instruct the facsimile modem to call a specific number that terminates at the service bureau 13. 5. The service bureau accepts the inbound call and identifies that the number dialed is the special number reserved for facsimile-equipped personal computing devices wishing to communicate with the service bureau. 6. The application software then causes the facsimile modem to send a unique identity and preferably type information to the service bureau. 7. The service bureau then undertakes an interchange appropriate to the type of facsimile modem and application software. 8. The service bureau then initiates transmission of stored facsimile-compatible data files to the facsimile-equipped personal computing device, and the personal computing device is instructed by the application software to receive the incoming facsimile-compatible data files . 9. If there are no facsimile-compatible data files in the specific mailbox, an indication is sent to the facsimile-equipped personal computing device which can be used to inform the user that there are no facsimile- compatible data files in the associated mailbox. 10. Billing data is updated for the appropriate account within the service bureau. Whenever the facsimile-equipped personal computing device calls into the service bureau, it is necessary that the personal computing device sends identifying information and preferably a security code to the service bureau. This information allows the service bureau to identify the facsimile mailbox which is assigned to the particular facsimile-equipped personal computing device, and to undertake the appropriate protocol required by the particular hardware and software in the personal computing device. This identifying information can be sent to the service bureau in several different formats, including: 1. Within the Called Subscriber Identification (CSI) field, which forms part of the data interchange between facsimile terminals prior to the actual transmission of the first image data and which normally contains the number of the particular facsimile terminal, or 2. Within the Transmission Terminal Identification (TTI) field, which normally contains an alphanumeric identification of the particular facsimile terminal and is printed at the top of each page on the receiving terminal, or 3. Within a specified formatted data block which adheres to standard facsimile format for a graphic page image, but which contains information other than a graphic image. This data block, or Encoded Data Page (EDP) , will be accepted by facsimile-compatible hardware or software, but its contents will be interpreted by the receiver as specific data fields, rather than a graphic image. These embedded information fields are sent by the facsimile-equipped personal computing device to the service bureau after the call is answered, and may contain such information as: 1. The unique identity of the facsimile-equipped personal computing device (for example, its account number and/or assigned DID number) ; 2. Type information, identifying the hardware and software resident in the facsimile-equipped personal computing device, and used by the service bureau to determine the protocol required to complete the delivery to the personal computing device; 3. Security information, such as a dynamically changing identifier or Personal Identification Number (PIN) , which helps assure that the facsimile-equipped personal computing device seeking to retrieve from a particular facsimile mailbox is, in fact, the legitimate recipient; Likewise, the service bureau can use these facsimile-compatible data fields to send information to the facsimile-equipped personal computing device, for example: 1. A description of the mailbox contents, including the number of documents to be delivered, the length and type of each document, and the CSI for each document. Therefore, before delivery starts, the receiver can select which documents he wishes to deliver and which can remain in the mailbox; and 2. Miscellaneous account information. The software within the facsimile-equipped personal computing device is capable of sending identifying information (such as assigned facsimile number, security code, and type) to the service bureau, and of interpreting information sent to it by the service bureau (such as mailbox contents description, account information) . In the event that such information is contained within the CSI, the software in the facsimile-equipped personal computing device must create a specific CSI when retrieving from the service bureau (typically containing assigned DID number, account number, type, and security code) . However, when transmitting facsimile-compatible data from the facsimile-equipped personal computing device to a remote recipient, the software in the facsimile- equipped personal computing device will create a CSI appropriate for display on the remote facsimile terminal (typically containing only the assigned DID number and/or sender identifier) . Therefore, the software in the facsimile-equipped personal computing device is able to create different CSI contents depending on whether the transaction is a send, normal receive, or service bureau retrieve, and may have to dynamically change the contents as part of a security protocol. Since different facsimile-equipped personal computing devices may require different protocols when communicating with the service bureau, the service bureau must be able to determine the protocol appropriate to the particular personal computing device calling in. In the method described above, the facsimile-equipped personal computing device calls the service bureau at a known telephone access number and informs the service bureau of its type, thereby allowing the service bureau to enter into the appropriate protocol. An alternative method of assuring that the service bureau uses the protocol appropriate to the calling facsimile-equipped personal computing device is to provide several different telephone access numbers, one number for each protocol type. A facsimile-equipped personal computing device will call the number appropriate to its type, and the service bureau will invoke the appropriate protocol based on the access number dialed. As can be understood from the above, the personal computing device with the facsimile modem is able to transmit, according to two different protocols. These protocols generally correspond to the conventional protocol for transmitting of a facsimile transmission to a particular facsimile machine, and to receive transmissions from other facsimile machines when the device is connected to the telephone line. The second protocol involves manipulation of the facsimile modem to be capable of receiving a facsimile transmission, even though it initiated the telephone communication and in a normal mode would be expecting to transmit a facsimile rather than receive one . This second protocol is accomplished by means of the service bureau communicating with the personal computing device through certain signals which are passed on by the facsimile modem in what would otherwise be a normal transmission mode. Thus, the signals effectively get behind the facsimile modem and cause the application software to prepare the modem for receipt of a facsimile transmission. There is effective communication between the service bureau and the application software of the personal computing device, and this cooperation can use additional features of the facsimile modem designed for other uses, but which are used by the personal computing device and the service bureau to effectively result in the desired manipulation of the facsimile modem. When a facsimile-equipped personal computing device places a call to the service bureau via its facsimile modem in order to retrieve the contents of its mailbox, it is necessary for the calling terminal to identify what device category it belongs to. The reason that this identification is necessary, is that the service bureau may have to undertake a different procedure for each of the various categories. There are several ways in which the facsimile-eqipped personal computing device can indicate its category to the service bureau, including: 1. By calling a telephone number that is reserved for all members of its category. Therefore, the service bureau will know from the number dialed which procedure is appropriate for the facsimile modem that has just called in. If the service bureau is supporting, for example, four different device categories, it would serve four access numbers. Within a given category, the application software in the facsimile-equipped personal computing device would know the correct service bureau number to call. 2. The category could also be identified within a data field which is part of the normal facsimile protocol. For example, the category (along with the terminal identification and security code) could be part of the CSI, specifically set by the application software in the personal computer for a retrieval, as opposed to the CSI normally used when sending facsimiles. Alternatively, the category could be embedded in the TTI or within an Encoded Data Page. Within the range of facsimile modems presently in the marketplace, it is necessary to employ at least two different procedures to force a modem which has placed an outbound call to then accept an inbound facsimile, as shown below: 1. Some modems can place an outbound call and then enter "receive" mode. In this case, the category designation (conveyed through the access number dialed, CSI, TTI, or within an Encoded Data Page) will cause the application software in the facsimile-equipped personal computing device to enter "receive" mode, and the service bureau to enter "transmit" mode without interrupting the call just established. Thus, the mailbox contents can be delivered to the facsimile-equipped personal computing device which has called into the service bureau. 2. Some modems cannot be forced into "receive" mode by the application software after they have placed an outbound call without causing the facsimile modem to go back on-hook and drop the call. If a modem in this category is set to "receive" mode, it goes back on-hook and awaits inbound ring, the conventional procedure for receiving a facsimile. In this case, the category designation (conveyed) through the access number dialed, CSI, TTI, or within an Encoded Data Page) will cause the application software in the facsimile-equipped personal computing device to enter "polling" mode, as opposed to "receive" mode, and the service bureau to likewise enter "polling" mode, as opposed to "transmit" mode. The service bureau is now able to transmit the mailbox contents to the facsimile-equipped personal computing device which has just called into the service bureau. Facsimile modems typically include some sophisticated additional features and these additional capabilities, or features, can be used to force the facsimile modem to undertake the desired operation procedure. Knowledge of the particular type of facsimile modem allows convenient manipulation and is the preferred arrangement for effecting this particular combination. Thus, both the service bureau, the application software of the personal computing device must cooperate to achieve the particular manipulation of the facsimile modem for receipt of the transmission. In this way, a system is possible where commercially available facsimile modems may be forced to perform in a particular non-conventional manner. With the present system, it is possible to use existing facsimile modems and cause these modems to depart from their normal operation procedure and be capable of receiving a facsimile when the communication was originated by that particular facsimile-equipped personal computing device. The preferred solution for the most popular facsimile modems now available is providing the personal computing device with application software to allow at least two distinct types of communications, namely the normal facsimile protocol and a specialized protocol for initiating a communication with a service bureau and causing the facsimile modem to allow receipt of a facsimile transmission from the service bureau. In most cases, there is a particular interaction between the application software and the service bureau to achieve this particular result. The communication between the personal computing device and the service bureau is of a specialized nature and the initial transmission fields associated with facsimile transmission are advantageously used to achieve the desired operation of the facsimile modem. One of the advantages of this approach is that most facsimile modems are compatible with this operation and the only additional capability is provided in the application software. This application software can be downloaded by the service bureau to the personal computing device whereby the software is received electronically. The manual for the software can be provided as "On Screen HELP". This allows a system which is easily set up by the service bureau and is extremely convenient for the end user, who typically merely has to run the application software to initially install it. Any simplified installation instructions may also be provided electronically. The present system has been described with respect to a user instructing the personal computing device to initiate a telephone communication with the service bureau. In some cases, it may be desirable that the contact be initiated by the software on a periodic time basis . For example, when the personal computing device is connected through a facsimile modem to a telephone line, facsimile- compatible data files can be retrieved on a regular basis. The application software includes this type of operation procedure as a user selectable option. In some cases, there may be a number of facsimile- compatible data files waiting at the service bureau to be transmitted to the particular personal computing device. The service bureau can transmit a list summarizing the files received for the particular personal computing device whereby the user can select which facsimiles are to be sent and in what order. Therefore, the application software and the service bureau cooperate to allow a user to first review the facsimile summary and have any or all of the facsimiles transmitted thereto. Another feature of the system is for the service bureau, if desired, to provide some indication to the sender of the fact that the received data has been stored, and that delivery to the destination terminal will be delayed. This type of information can be provided in the Called Subscriber Identification (CSI) field sent by the service bureau to the sender, according to normal facsimile transmission. The system has also been described using facsimile transmission protocol between the service bureau and the subscribing personal computing devices. The system does allow exchange of facsimile compatible messages containing data other than normal facsimile images or administrative information including voice, audio, graphics, video, text, documents, images, printer data, plotter data, database, spreadsheet and other non-facsimile data files . Such files are contained within a message protocol that allows them to be exchanged between facsimile compatible devices. The application software can appropriately process any such files which are received. The system can be simplified by providing the personal computing device with a facsimile modem, which is capable of responding to initial instructing signals from the application software of the personal computing device to automatically switch to a facsimile receipt procedure. At the present time, the commercial facsimile modems are not necessarily designed to allow this to occur, but now that this feature has been recognized by the inventors to be beneficial, it can be added to future facsimile modems. In this way, the personal computing device can use the facsimile modem to initiate a call which is intended to effectively receive the facsimile transmission. Either the service bureau or other facsimile or personal computing device can originate the signal or, in fact, the personal computing device can produce a signal to the facsimile modem to tell it to anticipate the receipt of the facsimile transmission. It is clear that a user of a personal computing device in a hotel room with a facsimile modem having this capability allows the user of the personal computing device to basically instruct the facsimile modem to a different procedure, i.e. the modem will initiate a call to another source and then anticipate receiving a facsimile transmission from this connected source. Therefore, a user in a hotel room can merely contact the service bureau to empty the contents of his mailbox or to review the contents of his mailbox, and prior to making that communication, the personal computing device knows, or the user instructs the personal computing device, that it is a communication which it will initiate, but which will result in the transmission of a facsimile to it. Furthermore, the service bureau cooperates with the software of the computer 11 to accommodate receipt of several selectable files. Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims .

Claims: THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS: 1. In combination a service bureau and separate and distinct computing devices, said service bureau having associated therewith a multiline Direct In-Dial (DID) telephone trunk group with individual DID telephone numbers thereof each assigned to one of said computing devices, each computing device being equipped with a facsimile modem and application software for controlling the operation of the facsimile modem, each facsimile modem and application software having the capability to initiate a telephone communication with a destined terminal and transmit facsimile encoded information thereto or to receive facsimile encoded information sent thereto in the manner of a conventional facsimile transmission, said service bureau including signalling means to transmit signals to a computing device equipped with the facsimile modem and the associated application software which has initiated communication with said service bureau to cause the facsimile modem to depart from the conventional facsimile procedure and cause the facsimile modem to be in a state for receipt of facsimile encoded information which is subsequently sent thereto from said service bureau. 2. In combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said service bureau receives information regarding the type of facsimile modem which has initiated a telephone communication and uses the type information to have said signal means produce appropriate signals to cause said modem of that type to alter its normal procedure and prepare itself for receipt of facsimile encoded information whereby facsimile modems of different types can effectively communicate with service bureau for pickup of facsimile information sent to the service bureau and destined for the particular computing device. 3. In combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said service bureau determines the signals to be sent to the particular computing device based on knowledge of the type of facsimile modem. 4. In combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein each computing device includes its own unique security code which is transmitted to the service bureau and confirmed thereby prior to transmission of facsimile encoded information received by the service bureau and destined for the computing device. 5. In combination a service bureau for receiving and transmitting facsimile transmissions and a personal computing device having application software controlling a facsimile modem, said service bureau having a telephone address to which said personal computing device may initiate a telephone communication and said service bureau having knowledge of the type of facsimile modem of the personal computing device, said application software applying a specialized protocol for facsimile communications initiated by the personal computing device and destined for the service bureau for the purpose of retrieving facsimile transmissions received by and temporarily stored by the service bureau on behalf of the personal computing device, said application software and said service bureau cooperating to manipulate the facsimile modem to a state for receiving facsimile transmissions without disconnecting the telephone communication. 6. In combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said application software and said service bureau use the Called Subscriber Identification, Transmission Terminal Identification, or Encoded Data Page fields of facsimile transmission protocol to exchange information used to manipulate the facsimile modem. 7. In combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein said information includes the type of facsimile modem. 8. In combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein said information includes a security code of the personal computing device used to authorize the service bureau to release any stored facsimile transmission. 9. In combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said service bureau initially transmits a summary list of any received and temporarily stored facsimile compatible files for the personal computing device before transmission of any of the facsimiles . 10. A software application program for programming of a personal computing device to effectively control operation of an associated facsimile modem, said program including means for accommodating first and second distinctly different facsimile transmission modes, said first facsimile transmission mode being used to transmit a facsimile to a particular telephone address of a destined facsimile terminal, said second facsimile transmission mode initiating telephone communication with a predetermined computer which cooperates with the application software to cause the associated facsimile modem to accommodate receipt of a facsimile transmission as opposed to transmission of a facsimile transmission if operating under the first' facsimile transmission mode. 11. A software application program as claimed in claim 10 wherein said second facsimile transmission mode includes the interchange of information in any of the Called Subscriber Identification, Transmission Terminal Identification or Encoded Data Page fields of a facsimile transmission initial communication, which information is used to send appropriate signals to cause the facsimile modem to accept receipt of a facsimile transmission as opposed to transmission of a facsimile transmission. 12. A software application program as claimed in claim 11 wherein said information includes transmission of the modem type to the predetermined computer. 13. A software application program as claimed in claim 12 wherein said information also includes a security code of the personal computing device which is sent to the predetermined computer. 14. A software application program as claimed in claim 13 wherein said information is contained in the CSI field. 15. A software application program as claimed in claim 11 wherein said second facsimile transmission mode accommodates transmission by the service bureau to the facsimile-compatible personal computing device of an initial summary facsimile-encoded file identifying various facsimile transmissions destined for the personal computing device followed by communication of additional signals and transmission of any or all of the various facsimiles. 16. A software application program as claimed in claim 15 wherein said software application program allows selection of certain facsimile-compatible data files identified in .a summary list communicated thereto by a facsimile transmission originated by said predetermined computer which selection causes communication of the identity of the selected information to the predetermined computer for the subsequent transmission thereof to the facsimile-compatible personal computing device. 17. A method for communicating information between a predetermined computer capable of receiving and transmitting information by facsimile transmission and a personal computing device having a facsimile modem and application software for controlling the operation of the facsimile modem when a transmission is originated at the personal computing device, said method comprising using any of the standard communication fields of facsimile transmission protocol to contain input data for the application software of the predetermined computer to cause the application software to manipulate the facsimile modem to a state to effectively receive facsimile transmission from the predetermined computer, even though the facsimile modem had initiated the telephone communication with the predetermined computer. 18. In combination a service bureau for receiving and transmitting facsimile transmissions and a personal computing device having application software controlling a facsimile modem, said service bureau having a telephone address by means of which said personal computing device may initiate a telephone communication, said application software applying a specialized protocol for facsimile communications initiated by the personal computing device and destined for the service bureau for the purpose of retrieving facsimile transmissions received by and temporarily stored by the service bureau on behalf of the personal computing device, said application software setting said facsimile modem to a state for receiving facsimile transmissions without disconnecting the telephone communication when a telephone communication is initiated by the personal computing device and subsequently completed .with the service bureau. 19. In combination as claimed in claim 18 wherein said service bureau and said application software interact to allow interchange of a plurality of facsimile transmissions during a single telephone communication session therebetween. 20. A software application program as claimed in claim 10 wherein said software includes means for interpreting facsimile transmissions of data which are other than conventional facsimile images, but which are transmitted thereto in a standard facsimile format, and which may be properly interpreted by the receiving terminal, and from which the original data fields may be extracted by the receiving terminal. 21. A software application program as claimed in claim 20 wherein said interpreting means includes means for extracting, from the facsimile-compatible transmissions, any of audio, voice, video, graphics, text, printer, plotter, database and spreadsheet data structures .

Inventors: GORDON ALASTAIR T, REICHMANN MICHAEL H, ROMAO NUNO C, GORDON, ALASTAIR, T., REICHMANN, MICHAEL, H., ROMAO, NUNO, C.
Applicants: ALPHANET TELECOM INC, ALPHANET TELECOM INC.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H04N1
IPC codes: H04N1